Johnson, who went 6-4 in the UFC, had climbed into welterweight and middleweight title contention with a 5-1 run from 2008 to 2011. However, back in January at UFC 142 in Brazil, he badly missed weight for a middleweight bout with Vitor Belfort after weighing in at 197 pounds. It marked his third time missing weight in the UFC, and Johnson was promptly released.

He now meets middleweight Branch, a Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu product who went 2-2 in a four-fight UFC run. Branch sandwiched wins over Rich Attonito and Tomasz Drwal betwwen losses to Rousimar Palhares and Gerald Harris. However, the .500 record wasn’t enough to keep Branch in the octagon.

He’s since earned wins over Dominique Steele and Jeremy May while competing on the regional scene.

“Anthony Johnson and David Branch are two of the most aggressive, powerful and athletic middleweights in the world, and to have this as the main event of Titan 22 is a defining moment for this brand,” Titan FC CEO Joe Kelly stated. “Titan 22 is going to end with ‘Rumble’ vs. Branch, but wait until you see the fights leading up to it. There will be more familiar faces, and I will be announcing more incredible matchups soon.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.